At the end of the 47th over of the Afghanistan innings, Noor Ahmad strode out prematurely, thinking over was called, and Aussie wicketkeeper Josh Inglis dislodged the bails
Australia skipper Steve Smith generously withdrew his team's appeal for Noor Ahmad's run-out despite the 20-year-old Afghan player having walked out of his crease during the crucial Group B clash in Lahore on Friday, February 28. (Match Blog | Full Coverage | More Cricket News)
At the end of the 47th over of the Afghanistan innings, Ahmad strode out prematurely, thinking over was called, after completing a single along with Azmatullah Omarzai off the last ball, bowled by Nathan Ellis. Aussie wicketkeeper Josh Inglis dislodged the bails as the throw came in from midwicket and appealed for it straightaway, but Smith told the umpire not to consider the appeal.
The benevolent gesture won many hearts. Inglis did eventually play a part in Ahmad's wicket, diving forward to catch him for six off Ben Dwarshuis' bowling. The Afghans ended up getting bowled out for 273 runs in their 50 overs.
Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first in what is a virtual quarter-final. The team winning this game is certain to advance to the semi-finals, while the losing side would most likely find itself out of reckoning.
Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Afghanistan are coming into this match after defeating England by eight runs in a cracker of a match in Lahore, while Australia's previous game against South Africa was washed out without a ball bowled.